Compact



June l5, 1937. R, STE|NER 2,084,292

COMPACT Filed Jan. 2, 1957 MATTRNEY.

Patented June 15, 19737 UNITED STATES PATENT OFI-1c 13 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to containers, powder compact cases andother devices having a plurality of leaf-like elements movable toward and f away from each other.

face, and means responsive to opening movement of the container for causing the mirror surface to be exposed in clean condition, and particularly free of any face powder or other pulverulent material which would otherwise mar the clearness of the mirror face.

Broadly, the invention aims to provide a device such as a compact case adapted to tightly retain powder and having an inner mirror surface which is exposed for use when the case is opened, and means housed within the device for cleaning the mirror face by a simple and reliable actuation.

I have observed that in compact cases, powder settles on' the mirror surface so that the user frequently wipes the same clean with her finger or with a handkerchief. 'I'his has occurred also in compact cases having a plurality of leaves or mirrors, variously arranged, and even the mirror face which was not directly exposed to the powder, became obscured by settlement thereon of powder which would seep through the most minute spaces or crevices.

An object of this invention is therefore to overcome these defects and difficulties and to provide a. simple, inexpensive, durable and reliable structure which is small and neat in appearance and rapid and convenient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willv become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in View, .the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjolned claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing: y

Figure 1 is a perspective isometric view showing a device embodying the invention, in the open position thereof.

Figs. 2 an'd 3 are sectional views taken on the lines 2-2 and 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the device in closed position.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of a wiper elgent.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of a modified or multivane wiper element.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a modified device embodying the invention, in open position.

Fig- 8 is a front view in open position of another modification of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

'I'he advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

Generally described, the invention provides a container such as a compact case having a mirror means associated therewith for movement along a predetermined path to clean the mirror or to present the mirror .in clean condition for use. 'Ihus a wiper means may be movable over the mirror, `or means may be provided with which the mirror has relative movement to prevent powder from settling on the mirror or to encase the same and to expose the mirror in clean condition for use when desired. Either means may be operated manually or semi-automatically as in response to an opening movement of the case or a movement of the mirror into operative position. The wiper represents the preferred embodiment since it can clean the mirror ina positive manner of even the nest grains of powder. Preferably, the structure employed is wholly housed in the compact case so that the device presents a smooth and neat external appearance. The disposition of the structure is such that the interior of the compact case is not obstructed, and the area of the mirror is substantially entirely exposed for observation. Desirably the structure is marginally disposed in the case, and the wiper moves downward to discharge removed powder into the box element of the compact case. If senil-automatic actuator means are employed, the same may include any desired mechanism such as links, levers, gears, pulleys, springsv or comblnations thereof, as may be well known to the mechanical engineer. If such semi-automatic means are employed, the invention may be construed to cover the mirror wherever located, and regardless whetherembodied in combination with a container or merely with relatively movable leaves. In that respect the wiper may be considered broadly a means for affecting or acting upon a plate having indicator means, since a mirror serves as an indicator of the conditions of the object, presented thereto,

Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 denotes a device embodying the invention. 'The same may include a pair of leaves arranged for relative movement to each other. For example, one leaf may be in the nature of a box element Il,

and the other leaf may be a cover or companion interconnected at I3. The box element II may be a container for an article such as a face pow der, andmay include a conventional powder sifter I4 therein. The cover element may comprise a mirror I5 or may be otherwise provided with a mirror surface on its inner face. The elements Il, I2 may have their marginal edges I6, I1 adapted for stepped interengagement to make the box tight; thus the edges I1 are adapted to engage around the edges I6.

If a glass mirror I5 be used, the same may'include rectangular frame element I3 suitably snapped into or secured to the cover element I2 to retain the mirror. A guide means mounted on the cover element may include elongated members I9, preferably mounted on the frame I3 so as to be assembled as a unit in the cover. It desired, the guide members may be in the nature of chann s facing each other.

A wiper me ber 23 may include a back or channel frame 2I in which is secured a wiping fabric of leather or the like 22. Said backv 2| may be provided with end pins 23 movable along the channels I3 to thus hold the wiper element in snug contact with the mirror. ,The size of the wiper portion 22 is such as to prevent rotation of the wiper element incourse of its'movement.-

For actuating the wiper element, a pair of links 24 are pivotally'connected at one end to the pins 23 between the channel guides and -the shoulder 2 5 of-the wiper element. The other end of the links 24 may be pivotally connected at 26 tothe box element intermediate of the leading edge thereof and the. hinge connection. If desired, bars 21 may be secured to the box element I2, with which bars the'pivotal engagement at 26 is effected. v

It will now be perceived that when the device I3 .is being opened while held in normal position, that is, with the box element II facing upward, the links 24 pull the wiper 23 downward to cause discharge into the box element II of powder that may have settled on the mirror. While this is occurring, the wiper is held snugly against the 4mirror by the channels I9. When the device I3 is fully opened, so that the elements II, I 2form an oblique angle therebetween, the wiper 20 lies close to the hinge connection I3 so that substantially the entire mirror is free for observation.

In that position the links 24 lie almost'iiat with the box element I I, so as to be out of the way, and said links may laterally abut the hinge to form a stop. When the device I3 is being closed, the wiper is moved upward. and it nnally lies at the l leading edge of the cover element' I2 when the case is closed, as shown in Fig. 4, and with the links 24 lyingyalong the sides or margins of the case. yThus the interior of thecase is not obstructed, and can v,freely receive a powder pull or other articles as may be required.V

By using a plurality of links 24, the wiper 20 is caused to reciprocate parallel Ato the -hinge axis, and without becoming loose at the channels I3 or binding thereat. vIt will be noted that the links describealmost a straight angle in course of ,their movement, and may be'generally repre;- sentative of angularly movable means responsive to relative angular `movement between the elements AI I, I2 to cause a movement; forinstance. a lineal movement oi the cleaner. 23.

. lFor compactness and symmetry, the channels I9 and member 23 may projectl laterally so as to aos-1,292

In any event, the guide means, wiper member` and links are entirely housed in the case.

Instead of the wiper portion 22, a device 23 may be employed which may 'comprise a plurality of, parallel vanes or louvres 23 of rubber, metal, or other suitable material, connected at their opposite ends to frame portions 33 which may carry pins 3| corresponding to the .pins 23. These vanes may be suitably inclined upward or downward relative to the face of the mirror I6 and afford a successive cleaning action for the latter.

In Fig. 7 is shown a device 32 embodying the invention and which may comprise a pair of leaves 33, 34 hingedly interengaged at 33, so -that the element 33 lmay act as a cover for thebox 34. The element 33 may havev an indicator or mirror surface which is-to be cleaned, and hence may have a wiper 36 associated therewith for relative movement by a means' 31. 'I'he arrangement is such that the channels I3 may be omitted. Thus the means 31 includes springs 33 disposed like the links 24 and pivotally connected at 33 to the wiper and secured at 43 to the boxy element 34. Each spring 33 may include a coil 4I, so that the movement of the springs may be similar to that of the links. To prevent the springs fromA throwing the cover open with undue rapidity and to as? .sure that the wiper will maintain its engagement with the cover, a counteracting'means such as a coil spring 42 may bel provided at the hinge 33 to tend to close the cover inthe usual manner. y

At 43 is shown a device embodying another the wiper at 49a, in the 4manner of thelinks; 24.

'Ihe element 43 is ofthe same size and shape as the mirror so as to frame the same as shown in Fig. 8, whereby the mirror is fully visible. To'

retain the parts in set position, the cover 43 may have projections 50, 5I, the former engaging the wiper, the latter the bail.r`

In use, the bail is grasped, swung upward, and used to move the wiper downward, and the parts are then engaged with the adjacent projections 50, 5I. Upon the' next succeedingoperation, the

bail is pulled out of snap engagement with-its projection 50, pulled upward to-mov'e" the wiper and then swung downward and reengaged with the projection 31|. I claim;

`1. A powder box includingy a pluralityof box Velements hingedly interconnected for movement toward and away fromeach 'other,y`one of said elements having a" mirroredsurface, a wiper member for the latter reciprocable across said surface toV cleanthe.-r` same, the'element having the mirrored surface having channel guide means for slidably receiving the wiper element, and actuator means interconnectingv theother element with the `wiper member to cause reciprocation of the latter relative movement between the elements.

2. A compact case 'including la plurality ofv leavesinterengaged for relative movement toward and away from each other Yso'that one of the leaves is adapted lin one position to cover and in a second position 'to expose a face of the other leaf, the latter having rigid longitudinal guide channels. said face constituting a mirror, a wiper bar movable to and fro over said face along said channels and having positions of rest at edges of said face so as to permit a relatively unobstructed view of the mirror, and actuator means for the wiper bar responsive to relative movement between the leaves and causing the wiper bar to lie in its positions of rest when the leaves are in their said relative positions to each other.

3. A compact case, including a box element, a box like cover element therefor, said elements being hingedly interconnected at edges thereof, so that the cover element opens into upright position, the box element being adapted to receive powder, the cover element having an inner mirror surface and having longitudinal marginal channels within the cover member, a wiper movable along the mirror surface and guided by the channels so as to lie near the hinge connection when the case is open, and remote from the hinge connection when the case is closed, and means actuated by the box element to cause said movement of the wiper, whereby the wiper moves downward as the case is opened in normal posi'- tion to discharge downward into the box element. powder that settled on the mirror face.

4. A compact case, including a box element, a cover element therefor, said elements being hingedly interconnected at edges thereof so that the cover element opens into upright position, the box element being adapted to receive powder, the cover element having an inner mirror surface and having channel guides along opposed i5 edges, a wiper guided by the channel guides and movable along the mirror surface so as to lie near the hinge connection when the case is open, and remote from the hinge connection when the case is closed, and means swingably engaged with the 40 box element intermediate of the hinge connection and the leading edge thereof to cause the wiper to move downward toward the hinge connection when the case is open and to move toward the leading edge of the cover element when the case 45 is closed, and the actuator means lying along the elements in the closed position of the case.

5. A compact case, including 4a box element, a cover element therefor, said elements being hingedlyv interconnected at edges thereof so that 50 the cover element opens into upright position. the box element being adapted to receive powder, the cover element having marginal guide channels and an inner mirror surface, a cleaner member vfor the latter guided by the channels and movable 55 therealong parallel to the hinge connection, and

actuator means operated by relative movement of the box element and including like means disposed at the ends of the latter for actuating said cleaner member at the ends thereof to cause the 50 parallel movement of the cleaner member.

6. A compact case including a box element adapted to receive powder, a cover element therefor of box shape, said elements being hingedly interconnected at edges thereof. the cover element ;5 having channel guide members along certain edges thereof, said guide members being spaced inward of said edges to permit the rlatter to engage companion edges of the box element to cause the case to tightly retain the powder when the case yo is closed, the cover element having its inner surface intermediate of the guides adapted to con` stitute a mirror, and a cleaner element for the' mirror movable along the guide members.

7. A compact case including a box element adapted to receive powder, a cover element therefor of box shape, said elements being hingedly interconnected at edges thereof, the cover element having elongated rigid guide members along certain edges thereof, said guide members projecting laterally of the cover element, and the box element guides extending along the inner face of the cover element in relative proximity to edges thereof, and a cleaner member for the mirror surface engaged in the guides for movement along the mirror surface.

i9. A compact case including a box element adapted to receive powder, a cover element therefor of box shape, said elements being hingedly interconnected at edges thereof, the cover element having channel guide members along certain edges thereof, the cover element having its inner sur-- face constituting a mirror face, a cleaner element movable along the latter and having end portions engaged with the guide members, and means engaged with said end portions intermediate of the guide members for causing movement of the cleaner element.

10. A device including a support, av mirror thereon, a frame element secured to the support for holding the mirror thereon, a wiper element movable to and fro along the mirror, and the frame element having longitudinal channel guide means for the wiper element.

l1. A device including a plurality of hingedly interconnected plates one of which constitutes a mirror facing the other plate, an elongated wiper element movable along the mirror element, and spring means connected to the other element intermediate of the leading edge thereof `and the hinge connection, said spring means being pivoti ally engaged with the wiper element to press the latter toward the mirror elementand to cause the said movement of the wiper element.

12. A compact including a powder box element, a cover element therefor, the latter having an inner mirror surface, a wiper element vfor the latter, and laterally projecting channel guide means for the wiper element, whereby the wiper element is adapted to be positioned at an edge of the cover element in the closed position of the case to prevent the wiper element from obstructing the contents of the box element.

13. A compact case including a 'box element and' a cover element hingedly connected thereto and having an inner mirror face, a. wiper element for the latter parallel to the hinge connection.

link elements pivotally connected to the wiper element at the ends of the latter-and swingably connected to the box element intermediate of the' leading edge thereof and the hinge lconnection',

and means coacting with the link elements to cause' the wiper element tobear against the mirror face with` the link elements causing the wiper element to move back and forth upon opening and closing the case. L l RIZIDOLF S'I'EDIER. 

